After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 19

Had she truly given the fan pendant to someone else?

Before discussing official matters, His Majesty and Xie Zhizhou each took black and white stones and began a game of Go.

“Speaking of which, Wen Lingzhou, who arrived in the capital some days ago, is around your age—steady and capable. Perhaps the two of you might become fast friends.”

Xie Zhizhou placed a stone, his expression calm. “Young Master Wen is valiant in battle. His recent return to the capital must mean his family has arranged a marriage for him.”

His Majesty laughed. “Not at all. I heard the Wen family proposed several matches, but he declined them all, claiming his unsettled life would only delay any young lady.”

“…” Xie Zhizhou remained silent, his eyes fixed on the board.

His Majesty added, “I’ve been through it all myself. Do you truly think I can’t see through that young man’s heart? He must have someone in mind and no interest in others.”

Xie Zhizhou clenched the black stone tightly between his fingers.

“I had considered bestowing a marriage to fulfill this romance. Unfortunately, when I asked him earlier, he refused to speak of it.”

Xie Zhizhou said, “It seems Young Master Wen is devoted to serving the state, with no mind for love.”

Suddenly, His Majesty laughed heartily. “Minister Xie, you’ve lost.”

Xie Zhizhou looked down to see the black stones trapped on the board, with no path to survival.

After clearing the board, His Majesty returned to his desk. “Minister Xie, your methods are remarkable. To uncover the list of colluding officials and merchants in less than a month is no small feat.”

Xie Zhizhou sat in the ornate chair bestowed by His Majesty. “The Jiangnan region is prosperous, but it has also bred many corrupt practices. Merchants keep catamites and prostitutes to trade with officials in the capital, while human traffickers roam north and south, amassing fortunes. Starting from these minor details, it shouldn’t be difficult to investigate.”

“Zhang Cheng presented this list to me the day before yesterday, clearly terrified.”

Xie Zhizhou took the list and saw it was almost identical to the one he had submitted to His Majesty.

“Does Your Majesty wish to continue the investigation?”

The emperor seated before the desk wore a stern expression, his mind turbulent with unspoken storms, yet his words remained calm. “Investigate. Start with him.”

Xie Zhizhou looked over and saw the emperor circle a name with a vermilion brush. The thick crimson ink had not yet dried, the two tightly bound characters struggling as if drowning in a sea of blood.

“Wu Zhen.”

If Xie Zhizhou remembered correctly, Wu Zhen’s family would be hosting a celebratory banquet in a few days, and Lin Shengshen had received an invitation.

At the thought of Lin Shengshen, Xie Zhizhou’s heart inexplicably tightened, and the image of the fan pendant hanging from Wen Lingzhou’s fan earlier resurfaced in his mind.

An Immortal Child Holding Lotus, carved from clear, warm jade—could this be the very one…?

How could it be?

He immediately dismissed the doubt in his heart, yet he couldn’t find a definitive reason to refute it outright. He could only let this seemingly trivial matter churn in his mind like a sharp blade, lifted and dropped again and again, leaving behind a trail of dense bloodstains.

“You seem distracted today. What’s the matter?”

Xie Zhizhou replied, “My wife went to offer incense at Qingsheng Temple today. I can’t help but worry.”

His Majesty said approvingly, “It’s rare for you to speak of family matters. You may go.”

With that, he instructed the attendant behind him, “Summon Attendant Qi to assist with the ink. I have memorials to review.”

As Xie Zhizhou walked along the lengthy palace corridor, the shadow of that fan pendant lingered in his mind.

If this marriage he had always despised were truly annulled, would Wen Lingzhou and Lin Shengshen then have their wish granted by His Majesty, and then…

—

Xie Zhenhuan chatted and laughed merrily along the way, clearly in high spirits.

Lin Shengshen took a sip of tea. “It seems we weren’t the only ones heading to Qingsheng Temple today.”

“Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?” Xie Zhenhuan blushed, lowering her head and twisting the embroidered handkerchief in her hands.

“Am I wrong? After being confined for so long, you must have been pining day and night, nearly lovesick! Tell me, what did Xu Wulin promise you today?”

Xie Zhenhuan felt a bit shy but was mostly delighted. “Brother Wulin said he’s free today and can meet me to give me my coming-of-age gift… It’s been delayed for so long.”

She pressed further, “Sister-in-law, what do you think he’ll give me? I’ve been thinking about it over and over these past few days.”

Lin Shengshen smiled faintly, exaggerating, “You came of age last year, and he’s only giving you the gift now, nearly summer. With such a long preparation, it must be something priceless and meticulously planned.”

Xie Zhenhuan grew even more excited upon hearing this, lifting the carriage curtain to gaze at the bustling streets outside. “I wish the carriage would go faster!”

Lin Shengshen watched Xie Zhenhuan’s back. Dressed beautifully today in a water-blue silk gown, the golden butterfly hairpin in her hair swayed with the carriage’s jolts, like colorful butterflies fluttering among flowers.

Lin Shengshen shook her head. Only the disappointment that follows great expectation can pierce the heart most deeply.

At Qingsheng Temple, ancient trees reached for the sky. Most nobles disembarked their carriages halfway up the mountain, ascending the steps on foot to enter the temple and pray, demonstrating their sincerity.

However, when Lin Shengshen and Xie Zhenhuan were halfway up the mountain, shouts suddenly came from behind.

“Make way! Make way!”

The two stepped aside and saw four men carrying a small sedan chair, sweating profusely and panting heavily as they trudged uphill. The man on the sedan chair had a bulging belly, his fleshy face merging with his neck. Beads of sweat dotted his temples as he fanned himself impatiently.

“Hurry up! Why are you so slow?”

A crowd of servants followed alongside. The leading attendant scolded the four burly sedan bearers: “Did you not eat?! If you delay the auspicious hour for the noble, can your heads bear the responsibility?”

Such noisy and unruly commotion faded into the distance as they moved farther away.

Xie Zhenhuan curled her lips. “The Qi family, basking in Consort Qi’s glory, now act as if they could kick their feet up to the heavens!”

Lin Shengshen observed the group ahead. The man on the sedan chair seemed crammed into it, his massive frame appearing rather comical from a distance.

“Is that Lord Qi?”

“Aside from him, no one in Yunjing has such pomp. Consort Qi is with child, and the imperial physicians have all declared it a prince. So Lord Qi is eagerly climbing the mountain to pay respects to the Taoist master, isn’t he?” Xie Zhenhuan linked arms with Lin Shengshen and continued walking.

Lin Shengshen suddenly recalled Qi Xin’s unreadable face and her calm, reserved demeanor—traits that seemed unlike those of Lord Qi’s daughter.

“I’ve heard Lord Qi has a younger daughter named Qi Xin, a rare talent. Have you heard of her?”

Having grown up in Yunjing, Xie Zhenhuan came from the prestigious Xie family and frequently attended banquets and literary gatherings, mingling with noble ladies and naturally picking up gossip.

“Her?” Xie Zhenhuan tilted her head in thought, then nodded. “She is indeed talented.”

“Pity it was a fleeting brilliance. Now she serves as Consort Qi’s confidante in the palace—she must be suffering. After all… in the palace, having His Majesty as the sole talent is enough.”

Lin Shengshen asked, “Why do you say she suffers? I heard Qi Xin and Consort Qi are as close as sisters, with a very intimate relationship.”

Xie Zhenhuan shook her head. “How could that be? The Qi matriarch is fierce and ruthless, and Lord Qi has countless wives, concubines, and children. With Qi Xin’s lowly status, Consort Qi tormented her relentlessly before entering the palace. All the noble ladies in Yunjing know, but none dare speak of it.”

She continued, “If not for her resilience and diligent study, which allowed her to shine once at a literary gathering, that youngest Qi daughter might have been tortured to death long ago.”

Xie Zhenhuan leaned close to Lin Shengshen’s ear and whispered, “Once at a spring banquet, I walked with her to freshen up and saw extensive bruises on her arms. When a maid bumped into her, she didn’t make a sound, only frowned and left. Sister-in-law, it must have hurt terribly, yet she acted as if nothing happened.”

Lin Shengshen lowered her gaze, suddenly remembering what Qi Xin had asked her in front of Qingchun Palace.

That ambiguous question had put Lin Shengshen on guard, preventing her from being easily trapped by Consort Qi’s words. Now, she wondered—was Qi Xin intentional or unintentional?

And the faint scents of patchouli and cloves lingering in Qingchun Palace…

What was once shrouded in doubt suddenly became clear. Yet, it remained uncertain whether this shrewd Qi attendant extended a hand of goodwill or…

“Zhenhuan, from now on, stay far away from anyone from the Qi family. It’s best to have no interaction at all with the Qi children.”

Xie Zhenhuan nodded. “Of course! The Qi family’s young masters are arrogant and domineering, frequenting brothels and pleasure houses, and each one is exceptionally ugly. I wouldn’t give them a second glance.”

After saying this, she added in a low voice, “If I were to look at anyone, it would be someone as heroic and mighty as Brother Wulin.”

“Falling in love before even meeting him? If you actually see him, won’t it become uncontrollable?” After laughing for a moment, Lin Shengshen said seriously, “Your marriage to Xu Wulin ultimately lacks the approval of elders. Accompanying you this time isn’t overstepping, but from now on, you’re not allowed to meet him privately.”

Xie Zhenhuan agreed repeatedly.

However, after wandering around the temple until their legs grew sore, and as the sun began to set, they finally received a message from Xu Wulin’s servant—

Xu Wulin was busy with military affairs and had left the city again, only sending a gift through someone else.

Xie Zhenhuan was deeply disappointed, but she still felt happy when she took the small box, her previously dim eyes filling with light again.

Lin Shengshen smiled faintly. “Young Master Xu has prepared for so long—it must be an exceptional gift. Zhenhuan, why not open it and see?”

The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead. This… Xu Wulin had actually forgotten about the matter and told him to randomly buy a hairpin from the street. Not understanding the styles, he had simply picked one…

Xie Zhenhuan carefully opened the box, only to find an ordinary plain silver hairpin inside, visibly crude and perfunctory. She fell silent, her heart aching as if it had rolled through a bed of rose thorns.

Her once hopeful mood suddenly felt hollow, threatening to bring tears to her eyes. She blinked hard and smiled at the servant. “Thank your young master for me.”

Peilan stepped forward at the right moment and handed a string of coins to the servant.

Holding the money, the servant felt it was worth more than the hairpin itself. Guilty but unable to explain, he awkwardly left.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Xie Zhenhuan, her eyes red, sighed. “Forget it. He must be too busy.”

Lin Shengshen knew that this single incident wouldn’t make Xie Zhenhuan give up completely. She nodded and comforted her with a smile, “Once he’s free, he’ll surely make it up to you with something better.”

The two entered the temple hand in hand to pay their respects.

Kneeling before the deity, Xie Zhenhuan murmured prayers beside Lin Shengshen for what felt like an eternity, until Lin Shengshen grew utterly exasperated…

From her own marriage prospects to Lin Shengshen and Xie Zhizhou’s union, to how many nephews Lin Shengshen would give her, and even their health and safe upbringing—she prayed for everything.

Lin Shengshen knelt at the deity’s feet, reciting the Clear Heart Mantra for a while, silently praying: This humble believer asks that Zhenhuan find a true love who will never betray her in this lifetime.

Before they finished, they heard Xie Zhenhuan exclaim beside them, “Why is it you!”

Wen Zhaoya said, “Oh, what a coincidence, Second Miss Xie.”

After returning from Baoxiang Tower the other day, Wen Zhaoya had put considerable effort into investigating the Xie family’s background, as well as that Miss Lin.

Xie Zhenhuan immediately stood up, knelt on another cushion to distance herself from Wen Zhaoya, then glanced at Lin Shengshen and quickly rose again to shield her.

Wen Zhaoya: …

“Sister-in-law, let’s go. We shouldn’t stay near this dissolute scoundrel.”

Lin Shengshen naturally recognized Wen Zhaoya but didn’t know what had happened between the two—why they acted like fighting cocks upon meeting.

Wen Zhaoya stepped forward and bowed. “Greetings, Sister-in-law.”

Xie Zhenhuan bristled at this. “She’s my sister-in-law!”

Wen Zhaoya smiled without speaking: Your sister-in-law? Perhaps soon she’ll be my sister-in-law.

Lin Shengshen tugged Xie Zhenhuan’s sleeve and laughed, “You and Zhenhuan are about the same age, so it’s fine if you both call me sister-in-law.”

Wen Zhaoya was dressed in a light blue robe today, looking fresh and clean, his appearance truly pleasing. Lin Shengshen glanced at him and then at Xie Zhenhuan beside her, nodding with a smile.

Xie Zhenhuan had a strong feeling that Wen Zhaoya approaching Lin Shengshen couldn’t mean anything good. She pulled Lin Shengshen away, whispering in her ear, “Sister-in-law, this man has shifty eyes—he even came to Baoxiang Tower before to ask about you. You must be careful!”

Lin Shengshen: …Everything’s a mess.

When they reached a quiet spot, Lin Shengshen pressed Xie Zhenhuan down to sit under a shady flowering tree. “Wait here. I’m going to freshen up and will be right back.”

Xie Zhenhuan wanted to follow, but seeing that Lin Shengshen seemed to be in a hurry, she nodded without asking further and obediently waited under the tree.

Lin Shengshen headed toward the rockery. Just as she reached it, a long, thin hair ribbon slipped from her sleeve—a sapphire-blue one with lotus scroll patterns, exactly like the one she had seen on Xie Zhizhou’s bedside table that morning.

Impatient to get behind the rockery, she clicked her tongue, shook off the troublesome ribbon, and tossed it into the grass nearby.

As soon as she rounded the rockery, she saw Wen Lingzhou waiting there. He looked rather flamboyant today, his hair tied high with a few strands falling over his shoulders, adorned with tiny gemstone beads.

“Shengshen.” Wen Lingzhou shifted his feet but ultimately didn’t take a step forward.

Lin Shengshen stopped two paces away from him. “Lingzhou-gege, you specially came here today and even sent Zhaoya to deliver a message to me. Is there something you need?”

Wen Lingzhou hesitated for a moment, recalling His Majesty’s words in the Qinzheng Hall: If you fancy any young lady, just tell me, and I shall bestow the marriage upon you!

Lin Shengshen frowned. Judging by his expression, it didn’t seem to be anything urgent.

She glanced up at the sky. “Lingzhou-gege, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Just as she lifted her foot to go, Wen Lingzhou asked, “Shengshen, do you regret… marrying Xie Zhizhou?”

—

Xie Zhizhou arrived at Qingsheng Temple at dusk. Watching the weary birds returning to the forest against the sky, he stood for a moment before turning to leave.

“Young Master, aren’t you going in to fetch Young Madam and Second Young Lady?” Yuan Qing urged anxiously.

Xie Zhizhou turned back and strode into the temple. “Let’s go.”

However, he only found Xie Zhenhuan sitting gloomily under a tree, with no sign of Lin Shengshen. Xie Zhizhou scanned the area and asked, “Where is Lin Shengshen?”

Xie Zhenhuan looked listless and replied languidly, “Sister-in-law went to freshen up.” She pointed in the direction Lin Shengshen had left.

“How long has she been gone?” Xie Zhizhou watched the orange-red sun half-swallowed by the horizon. As the sky darkened, he feared it would be dangerous for her to walk alone in the densely wooded temple grounds.

Xie Zhenhuan tilted her head thoughtfully, her expression turning grave. “About half an hour!”

“Yuan Qing, you stay here. I’ll go look for her.” Before finishing his sentence, Xie Zhizhou strode away.

Passing through shadowy winding paths and lush flowering trees under the dim, warm-hued twilight, Xie Zhizhou listened to the frantic pounding of his own heart.

Panic.

When this unfamiliar word surfaced in his mind, his chest tightened. But in the next instant, he reasoned it out—

No matter what, Lin Shengshen was his wife in name. Worrying about one’s wife’s safety was simply a natural human emotion.

Suddenly, a vibrant sapphire blue caught his eye. Xie Zhizhou stepped forward and saw the hair ribbon that Lin Shengshen had taken lying in the grass, its end stained with mud, looking utterly disheveled.

Xie Zhizhou stepped forward to pick it up, his previously somewhat steady heart suddenly racing wildly—

Could it be that Lin Shengshen was in danger? Had she intentionally dropped the hair ribbon as a clue?

The hidden chirping of insects suddenly seemed piercing to his ears. Xie Zhizhou strode toward the rockery, only to hear a familiar voice—

“Shengshen, do you regret… marrying Xie Zhizhou?”